News and Media

February 21, 2008

(Jacksonville, Fla.; Feb. 21, 2008) – Antique car enthusiasts in Puerto Rico were given a special treat this past weekend during the annual Gran Feria de Autos Antiguos when they got to see an extremely rare 1936 Duesenberg V-12.

The vehicle is worth $2 million and there is only one known to exist worldwide. It was on display at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey Feb. 16 through Feb. 18 for the 15th annual high-end, classic, car show.

Crowley was entrusted with the transportation of the car from its home at The William E. Swigart Jr. Automobile Museum in Huntingdon, Penn., to Puerto Rico and back. The vehicle is scheduled to leave Puerto Rico for Pennsauken, N.J., within the next few days.

“We were pleased to be part of this event and to have given Puerto Ricans and car show enthusiasts the chance to see such an incredible and rare automobile,” said Roberto Lugo, vice-president for Crowley’s Puerto Rico Services. “The fact that we were entrusted to transport this one-of-a-kind luxury car speaks volumes of Crowley’s superior track record of safely bringing good things to the people of Puerto Rico.”

The Feria de Autos Antiguos de Puerto Rico is the largest automotive event on the island and attracts more than 40,000 visitors each year. Over 1,700 antique and classic cars were on display, in addition to motorcycles and other automotive products. The Feria also hosted its first ever antique auto auction this past weekend.

The automobile belongs to Patricia Swigart, who was in Puerto Rico for the event. Swigart is part-owner of the automobile museum, the oldest of its kind in the United States. It was established in 1920 by late car enthusiast William Emmert Swigart.

The 1936 Duesenberg 12-Cylinder Prototype was designed by Gordon Buehrig using various parts from Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs. During the mid-1930’s, faced with economic struggles during the Great Depression, E.L. Cord halted production of all Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs. During those tough times, Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company only assembled a few cars, which were all assembled with spare parts. The last Modal J Duesenberg was built in 1940.

Duesenbergs, which were completely hand-made, were best known for their extremely high quality, opulence and record-breaking speeds. Movie star Jackie Coogan was the first owner of this exciting automobile, whose most famous TV role was the Uncle Fester character in The Addams Family television series.

Crowley and its predecessor company have been serving the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other carrier in the trade. The company, with more than 200 Puerto Rico employees, is also the No. 1 ocean carrier between the island commonwealth and the U.S. mainland with more weekly sailings and more cargo carried annually than any other shipping line.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corporation, founded in San Francisco in 1892, is a privately held family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.